Nemesia plant named ‘Innsuncara’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Nemesia  plant named ‘Innsuncara’ that is characterized by large gold yellow flowers, good cold temperature tolerance and an upright habit.

Botanical classification: Nemesia hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Innsuncara’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Nemesia plant botanically known as Nemesia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Innsuncara’.

The new Nemesia is the product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventors in Gensingen, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Nemesia cultivars with unique colors and a compact habit.

‘Innsuncara’ is a hybrid that originated from a crossing in the Summer of 2003 of the female or seed parent a proprietary Nemesia strumosa identified as Neb Gelb II (not patented) and the male or pollen parent a proprietary Nemesia identified as White Dream I tet 5 (not patented). The resulting seeds were subsequently planted and grown. The cultivar ‘Innsuncara’ was selected by the inventor in the Spring of 2004 as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross in Gensingen, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Innsuncara’ first occurred by terminal cuttings in July of 2004 in Gensingen, Germany. Since that time, under careful observation, the unique characteristics of the new cultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Nemesia cultivar Innsuncara'. These traits in combination distinguish ‘Innsuncara’ as a new and distinct cultivar apart from other existing known varieties of Nemesia.

-   -   1. Nemesia ‘Innsuncara’ exhibits good cold temperature         tolerance.     -   2. Nemesia ‘Innsuncara’ exhibits large gold yellow flowers.     -   3. Nemesia ‘Innsuncara’ exhibits an upright habit.

The closest comparison cultivars are Nemesia ‘Lemon’ (not patented) and Nemesia ‘Banana’.

‘Innsuncara’ is distinguishable from ‘Lemon’ by the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Innsuncara’ has gold yellow flowers. The flowers of ‘Lemon’         are yellow.     -   2. ‘Innsuncara’ exhibits larger flowers than ‘Lemon’.     -   3. ‘Innsuncara’ exhibits fewer flowers than ‘Lemon’.     -   4. ‘Innsuncara’ exhibits an upright habit. ‘Lemon’ has a         trailing habit.

‘Innsuncara’ is distinguishable from ‘Banana’ by the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Innsuncara’ has flowers with a single color. The flowers of         ‘Banana’ have two colors.     -   2. ‘Innsuncara’ exhibits larger flowers than ‘Banana’.     -   3. ‘Innsuncara’ exhibits better cold temperature tolerance than         ‘Banana’.     -   4. ‘Innsuncara’ exhibits an upright habit. ‘Banana’ has a         trailing habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits of Nemesia ‘Innsuncara’. The plant in the photograph shows an overall view of an 8 week old plant. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Nemesia cultivar named ‘Innsuncara’. Data was collected in Gensingen, Germany from 10 week old glass greenhouse grown plants in 12 cm. diameter containers. The time of year was autumn and the temperature range was 12–15 degrees Centigrade during the day and 8–10 degrees Centigrade at night. The light level was natural light. No photoperiodic treatments or growth retards were used. Color determinations are in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The growing requirements are similar to the species. ‘Innsuncara’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: Nemesia hybrida ‘Innsuncara’. -   Annual or perennial: Annual. -   Parentage: ‘Innsuncara’ is the product of the female or seed parent     a Nemesia strumosa identified as Neb Gelb II and the male or pollen     parent a Nemesia identified as White Dream I tet 5. -   Vigor: Very strong. -   Growth habit: Upright, bushy. -   Plant shape: Upright, rounded. -   Suitable container size: 12 cm. pots. -   Height: 20 cm. in height. -   Width: 15 cm. in width. -   Low temperature tolerance: 0° Centigrade. -   High temperature tolerance: 35° Centigrade. -   Propagation: Leaf cuttings. -   Time to initiate roots in summer: 10 to 12 days to initiate roots at     16 to 18° Centigrade. -   Time to initiate roots in winter: 16 days to initiate roots at 16°     Centigrade. -   Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner in summer: 10 to 12 days     at 16 to 18° Centigrade. -   Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner in winter: 18 to 20 days     at 16° Centigrade. -   Crop time: Approximately 6 to 8 weeks. -   Root system: Fine and fibrous, 20 to 30 cm. in diameter. -   Stem:     -   -   Branching habit.—Lateral branches grow from every             non-flowering axil.         -   Basal branching.—Yes.         -   Average number of lateral branches.—5.         -   Pinching.—Yes.         -   Lateral branch diameter.—7 mm. in diameter.         -   Lateral branch length.—8 to 12 cm. in length.         -   Internode length.—15 to 22 mm.         -   Stem shape.—Square with ridges at the corners.         -   Stem strength.—Very strong.         -   Stem color.—138C.         -   Pubescence.—Absent. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite, petiolate.         -   Compound or single.—Single.         -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—4 to 8.         -   Leaf shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Leaf apex.—Acuminate.         -   Leaf base.—Attenuate.         -   Leaf length.—8 to 12 cm. in length.         -   Leaf width.—4 to 7 cm. in width.         -   Texture.—Glabrous (upper and lower surface).         -   Pubescence.—None.         -   Leaf margin.—Dentate.         -   Venation pattern.—Simple.         -   Young leaf color (upper surface).—N137D.         -   Young leaf color (lower surface).—138C.         -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—N137C.         -   Mature leaf color (lower surface).—138C.         -   Vein color (upper surface).—144C.         -   Vein color (under surface).—144D.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Petiole dimensions.—25 to 30 mm. in length, and 5 to 7 mm.             in diameter.         -   Petiole color.—144D.         -   Durability of foliage to stress.—Good. -   Flower:     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Solitary/opposite in leaf axils.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—1.         -   Flower type.—Zygomorphic.         -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—2 per leaf pair.         -   Quantity of flower buds per lateral stem.—2 per leaf pair.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—Average 150.         -   Natural flowering season.—April to October.         -   Time to flower.—5 weeks.         -   Rate of flower opening.—Every 4 to 6 days.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Flower bud length.—3 to 5 mm.         -   Flower bud diameter.—2 to 3 mm. in diameter.         -   Flower bud shape.—Saccate.         -   Bud color.—4C.         -   Rate of bud opening.—4 to 6 days.         -   Flower aspect.—Outward.         -   Flower shape.—Zygomorphic.         -   Flower dimensions.—30 to 35 mm. in diameter and 15 mm. in             height.         -   Flower longevity.—5–6 days.         -   Number of petals.—5.         -   Fused or unfused.—Fused.         -   Petal arrangement.—Upper 3 petals fused, lower 2 petals             fused.         -   Petal shape.—Cordate.         -   Petal margin.—Indented.         -   Petal apex.—Cuneate.         -   Petal base.—Attenuate.         -   Petal length.—20 mm.         -   Petal width.—20 mm.         -   Petal color when opening (upper side).—12B, upper petals             have a base with separate areas of N155 and N79B.         -   Petal color when opening (under side).—12D.         -   Petal color fully opened (upper side).—12A, upper petals             have a base with separate areas of N155A and N79B.         -   Petal color fully opened (under side).—12C.         -   Petal color fading to.—12B.         -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Self-cleaning. -   Sepals:     -   -   Sepal appearance.—Ligulate, pubescent.         -   Sepal arrangement.—Curved.         -   Number of sepals.—Average 5.         -   Sepal shape.—Ligulate.         -   Sepal margin.—Pubescent.         -   Sepal apex.—Attenuate.         -   Sepal base.—Fused.         -   Sepal dimensions.—9 to 11 mm. in length and 2 to 3 mm. in             width.         -   Young sepal color (upper side).—N137C.         -   Young sepal color (under side).—N137D.         -   Mature sepal color (upper side).—N137C.         -   Mature sepal color (under side).—N137C. -   Calyx:     -   -   Calyx shape.—Stellar, fused at base.         -   Calyx dimensions.—9 mm. in diameter. -   Pedicels:     -   -   Pedicel length.—30 to 32 mm.         -   Pedicel diameter.—2 mm.         -   Pedicel angle.—30 degrees from stem.         -   Pedicel strength.—Strong.         -   Pedicel color.—N137D. -   Reproduction organs:     -   -   Stamen number.—5, 3 visible.         -   Anther shape.—Oval.         -   Anther size.—1.0 mm.         -   Anther color.—12D.         -   Amount of pollen.—Moderate.         -   Pollen color.—12D.         -   Pistil number.—1.         -   Pistil length.—1.0 mm.         -   Stigma shape.—Dentate.         -   Stigma color.—155C.         -   Style length.—2 mm.         -   Style color.—155C.         -   Ovary color.—155C. -   Fruit: None, sterile triploid. -   Disease and pest resistance: Disease and pest resistance has not     been observed. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Nemesia plant named ‘Innsuncara’ as described and illustrated. 